Working temperatures in an office

[Nosha123]

How hot is too hot?

If you are pregnant and working in an office in a sedentary desk job - how hot is too hot? Before its deemed illegal or unsafe?

There is air con... but one unit is not working and so not proving as effective.
By law - what must you be provided with?

The air temp outside is much warmer than inside... but the rooms do get warmer during the day as the sun moves round.

A fan can be provided and adjacent air con units are working. But some people complain of being too cold as they are under the air con unit and some complain of being too hot (where it doesnt quite reach them!)

[bednobs]

how much will you lose in sick pay/lost productivity though?
put a fan right by her (cheap in argos) then tell her to wear natural fibres, lose clothing, drink lots of water, keep one of those eye masks in the freezer, run her wrists under water etc etc

[Nosha123]

going to do all that bednobs (and have suggested it all already)... but had lots of objections to our suggestions so far... that they wont work!

[albaqwerty]

Tell them she won't know until she tries any of them.

[bednobs]

put it on her risk assessment as mitigating points to the risk of overheating, then next time she complains you have points to go through with her

[factor-fiction]

It sounds like the sort of person who will complain about whatever is offered. It may be that she is the sort of person who may choose to go off sick before too long

[Nosha123]

can you give me a bit more detail pls bednobs.... not done that before!!!

[bednobs]

it's a legal requirement nosha, to do a risk assessment on a pregnant worker. If any risks are found, you then need to state how you are going to mitigate them. Writing it down protects you!

[Nosha123]

Yes factor30.. thanks..... I see your point...
We have assessed the possible risks.. eg not lifting heavy boxes etc and not going downstairs to basement... but what do I have to do regarding being too hot?
Note down all the suggestions and advice we have given and measures we have provided? Then point these out next time there is a complaint?

[bednobs]

http://www.hse.gov.uk...ct/faqs/pregnancy.htm

[bednobs]

that sounds like a very good idea nosh, then you are protected